Webley Raider - two shot - Part two

The Raider with the usual bench clutter, click for a close up

PCP No. 1, day 4 - Thursday


Until the fill probe arrives, I'm at a standstill. I add a board to the bottom of the pump to increase stability. It's an old drawer front sample finished in maple toffee, and I attach it with antique bronze hinges. Any scrap of lumber would work, but I fuss with it like an expectant mother in the nursery.

Since this is downtime, I would like to at least partially explain my purchase of the Webley. The power level is attractive, along with what appears to be a very simple design, so my assumption is that not much can go wrong. The size and weight are also close to my ideals.

My first "adult" spring airgun was a Webley that I ordered directly from England in the '70s. Given the demise of Webley's UK operation, I assume the opportunity for UK-made Webleys will become increasing difficult. Finally, I had two offers to purchase it at the price I paid before I even received it.

Shoots cheap Gamo Hunters well...

PCP No. 1, day 5 - Friday

The fill probe is here. The rifle has 50 bar in it and needs to go to 190 bar. It's apparent that shooting the rifle down so low has its disadvantages. I add air in groups of 20 strokes and find it to not be overly strenuous.

At 150 bar, a knob is turned on the pump to keep the final strokes on par with the first. It seems to work. It takes 103 strokes total before the rifle is fully charged. Eureka! I think many adults would be able to fill a PCP at their own pace with a hand pump. My guess is the scuba tank option probably allows anyone capable of just holding a rifle to shoot.

Note the two shot mag, also feel of this stock is wonderful.

In the future I will wish I could combine it with the FX Cyclone action for the perfect PCP

I check the scope settings by shooting a group at a little over 13 meters. This is the longest indoor range I can accommodate. The 5 shots are fired quickly, and the result is ok but nothing noteworthy. The big upside is that once the rifle is filled, the rest of the procedure is effortless.

Since the Raider is no longer available, I don’t think tons of statistics will be that beneficial, but here are a few.

The manual states that the non-FAC version will provide about 60 12-foot-pound shots. I get 30 shots that range from 21.4 to 23.8 ft lbs with 14.3-grain JSB Exacts.

Each shot requires about 2.7 pumps. That's not too bad, considering the power is at the level of a tuned Beeman R1. For lack of an onboard gauge, I simply count 30 pellets out and put them on deck in the lid of the tin. When they're gone, I know it's time to start pumping. It takes about 81 strokes. I was concerned about variation in velocity, but POI does not seem to change much with a spread of 32 fps.

FX hand pump with Volvo's base

The results of one of the 30-shot strings with .22 caliber JSB Exact Jumbo Express:

Shot 1...839

Shot 10...844

Shot 20...849

Shot 30...806

And just for fun, shot 40 is 742 fps.

I try some Gamo Hunter pellets. At the 36 feet I am shooting, 3 pellets make a single oversized hole. That is better than some of the "quality" pellets I tried. The Gamos are not very pretty, but often give acceptable results. Once again, the scope is an older, inexpensive 3-9s set on 6x.

The 2-shot clip would be appreciated in the field; but from a bench, using it as single shot is actually more efficient.

This may seem odd, but working the bolt is one of my favorite parts. It's very satisfying and something spring rifles don’t offer. Once, toward the end of the session, I instinctively smacked the end of the barrel to break the rifle open. Old habits die hard.

Final thoughts

I think a PCP would be the best way to convert a firearm shooter to airguns. The ability to bench the rifle, not worry about hold, mount a scope with no more difficulty than mounting one on a rimfire and the lack of recoil make for a user-friendly platform. Once you become acquainted with the process, a PCP is not as daunting as many make it sound.

If I could design my own PCP, my priorities in the order of importance would be quiet operation, adjustable power, onboard gauge, multiple shots, less than 7 lbs., about 40" long and easy to refill. (Sounds like an FX Cyclone, I just don't know it at the time)

If you want an air rifle with the power of the magnum spring guns, the feel of a recoilless match rifle, and handy size, it seems a PCP would be hard to beat.

My final conclusion: I would recommend one to a friend.

Rack #3

Five professionally tuned Springer’s, three by Paul Watts and two by Rich in Mich. Could they someday all be replaced by a single PCP?

Left to right: HW97K .177, HW30S .177, HW50S .22, FWB124D .177, BSA Lightning XL .25

Webley Raider - two shot - Part One

Preface


This is taken from my notes for a guest blog I wrote for PA a couple years ago. While I would guess the original is lost or will be in the format transition, it is now preserved for prosperity. The topic is my first venture in the PCP world - a Webley Raider.

The stock on this rifle is a perfect shape

PCP No. 1, day 1 - Monday

A late appointment meant I did not get home until about 8:00 pm. I saw the box still on the front stoop. The wife and kids have learned the long boxes are for dad, so they seldom bother to bring one in, much to my chagrin.

After dinner, I opened it up, my wife commented it was different and she liked the looks of it. My youngest said I better not be spending their Christmas present money. (No, I’m not).

BG_Farmer, I would guess you would not approve. It has gold on the trigger guard and fill plug. Also, Webley Raider in gold on the side. I’m guessing that's what attracted the wife to it. I prefer blued, but I ordered it sight-unseen for $395.


An attached 2-shot magazine means you can't check to see if a pellet is loaded, so I fired it to make sure is was empty. "Dad, that's too loud. Go downstairs."

In the confines of the basement, it was even louder. So, a PCP with no shroud means getting the hearing protection out of your range bag. This rifle won't work like the spring guns for late night shooting or suburban backyard critter protection.



I forget this scope is dead, killed by my Webley Patriot years ago

I use the Tibet Almond stick that I apply to the stocks of all used guns. A heavy application hides most scratches. I put it on the entire stock and let it sit overnight. The rifle has nice blue/black on the metal and a wide, flat forearm similar to a centerfire varmint rig. Little over 7 lbs. without a scope and 37" long. Other then “new old stock” this Webley is no longer available. Best I can tell it was offered for about 7 years.

PCP No. 1, day 2 - Tuesday

In the morning, I put a quick coat of wax on the stock. With the 2-shot magazine, I can't run a couple patches down the barrel. I also give it a generous rub down with Beeman MP-5 on the outside metal. A quick wipe with an old white t-shirt reveals no rust, so I'm happy.

That evening, I decide to put a few shots over a Chrony. The rifle has no fill gauge, which means one less part to fail, but it also means I have no clue how much air is in it. The Webley manual says the maximum fill is 200 bar, but they recommend 190 bar. It really doesn’t matter, as I have no hand pump for it yet. 


I try a .22 pellet (14.5 grains according to my scale), and it averages 850 fps. My Chrony lacks the printer, so I just shoot a short string to get an idea of the charge in the rifle and its performance. The basement PC takes me to the energy calculator on the Pyramyd Air site, where I learn that the energy with this pellet is 23.27 foot-pounds.

I picked a 6-18x Bushnell Trophy scope that's too long for most of my current spring rifles but will fit fine on the Webley. It was originally on a Beeman R1, and then moved to a Patriot. My first shot at about 36' misses the Gamo trap altogether, as does the second.

I go to plan "B"....an old, larger Beeman quiet trap at 24". The round strikes low and left. I dial in as much up and right as I can. No use. It's at the limit of its adjustable range. I then recall the Patriot killed this scope years ago. It was late, so I’ll try again this evening.

Usual deep Webley blue, looks like the JM lubes are watching the newcomer

PCP No. 1, day 3 - Wednesday

The pump has arrived. In my search for a hand pump to fill the PCP, I learned the following:

Limited selections are available, which is further reduced by what is actually in stock. I ended up ordering an FX 4-stage pump that claims to lower the effort needed to fill the rifle. Additionally, I based my decision on not much more than I recognize the FX brand name and the unit is available immediately. Sold.

When I open the shipping box, I quickly surmise that my request for “the piece that connects the rifle to the pump” has been denied. My disappointment is furthered by a non-specific, one-page sheet for assembly and use. I have to thank the yellow forum members as they explain the seemingly extra part is a moisture filter and actually post a link to Pyramyd Air with the fill probe I'll need along with a picture of it.

I ordered the last piece of the puzzle just before midnight.

Earlier in the evening, I replaced the malfunctioning Bushnell Trophy 6-18x with a lesser Bushnell 3-9x that did light duty on a Beeman R7. The first shot is close, and I'm spot on in about 5 shots.

Lots of bling

I start with Crow Magnums. As they drop an inch below the aimpoint, I switch to JSB Exact Jumbo Express, which puts me back on target. Finally, I put H&N Match in the rifle and shoot them, starting at an inch high to more than an inch below the bullseye.

Even with hearing protection, I realize the discharge noise is greatly reduced. I take off my earmuffs, and the rifle now sounds like my Daisy 922. A quick check shows the H&N Match are down to 497 fps. I'm done until I can charge the rifle.

I shoot an HW30S as if to show the Raider the beauty of self-sufficiency.